Willie Green Should Start

I've mentioned him is several other threads. This guy is a godsend. For a while he was the best three point shooter in the league. He's like Bruce Bowen on the spot up corner three. (Better than Affalo). He was a solid starter, better than Billups. Lawler always called him a consummate professional, one of the best character compliments you can give.

I know stats don't tell it all but on paper he's almost as good. He's under contract for $!.7 mill. How much cap room does that give $1.7 vs $7.7. Get A what's his name and we still have him and Crawford and no wing,. He's not the greatest defender but we all have our faults.

Is it coincidence that we did better when he started than Billups? Maybe Affalo is a bit better bur SIX MILLION better? I don't think so. Bledsoe plus Butler can give you a good wing player

LeftHook

06/26/2013 - 03:12 AM PST

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I like Willie Green, I like Afflalo also. I'm a bit of a defense guy, so I'm leaning towards Afflalo.

I wish they gave Willie a shot in the playoffs.

If only Bledsoe was a little taller and a little more consistent, we would be set at that position.

divinebeast

06/26/2013 - 03:41 AM PST

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Mediocre defender

Mediocre shooter

Only strength is the wide open corner three (1.7 attempts per game)

We were clamoring for Willie because Chauncey was beyond horrendous not because Willie was anything other than a mediocre shooting guard

Using his shooting percentage from three is disingenuous because he took so few per game.

ClipperSam

06/26/2013 - 03:51 AM PST

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Willie needs to be upgraded

AirGriffin

06/26/2013 - 04:13 AM PST

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Yuppp. Perfect to keep in case of emergency for 1 mil.

Afflalo needs to be our starter. Way better offensively and better on defense. And younger. Green is great emergency back up and to come in and play crap minutes

Voyeur

06/26/2013 - 09:48 AM PST

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Mediocre shooter? This guy was a deadshot from 3. His only problem was he wasn't very aggressive. And yet, we were still in better shape with him starting over Billups.

Does anyone remember how well Green played toward the end of the season? It's like he was getting into playoff mode. I'd love to see what his shooting stats were the last two months of the season. I would have no problem starting Green and concentrating our efforts improving the C position and probably the SF position.

StrikeBack

06/26/2013 - 09:56 AM PST

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Yup, he even lead the NBA in 3 point percentage at a particular spot on the arc.

pmb0928

06/26/2013 - 09:58 AM PST

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Willie was 47/84 for 56% from the field in his last 13 games played at end of regular season and 20/34 from 3 point range in that span for 59%

Markojaric

06/26/2013 - 09:58 AM PST

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Gotta love Willie Guns. Underrated shooter (40% 3pt during end of season) and defender (though not exceptional.). Can give you heavy minutes if needed at a very decent rate.

And when he was a starter we arguably played way better.

clipperboy24

06/26/2013 - 10:00 AM PST

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Willie was fine if we want someone who is decent at holding down the position but not helping a lot. His defense is decent but please don't compare him to Bruce Bowen. IMO he is a more important piece to replace than butler. Crabbe or bullock would be great pickups at 25

Voyeur

06/26/2013 - 10:06 AM PST

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Thanks. And what does that tell you about a guy who saves his best for the final stretch? Sure he's not as great a defender as a Bruce Bowen but not many are. He's pretty solid, and a guy like Doc may even make him better. Plus, there's a history with he and Paul. I like the guy as our starter. I wouldn't say no to Afflalo but I'm just saying my priorities would be different at personnel.

tense2

06/26/2013 - 10:35 AM PST

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Willie Green is a...good roll player. He's nothing more or nothing less. We need a above average player at that starting spot. Ditto @ the sf position.

We are below average at those two very important staring positions.

clipperstown

06/26/2013 - 10:42 AM PST

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willie green definitely deserved more playing time last season. If we can get a small forward, i wouldn't mind starting willie at the 2. i'd feel better about our sg/sf spots being willie/new small forward ( mkg?) rather than new shooting guard/Caron

Voyeur

06/26/2013 - 10:46 AM PST

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Agree wholeheartedly.

tense2

06/26/2013 - 10:49 AM PST

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Your be regretting that IF Green does becoming the starting sg. The sg and sf must be upgraded for us to become an elite championship contender.

clipperstown

06/26/2013 - 10:51 AM PST

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tense2 wrote:

clipperstown wrote:

willie green definitely deserved more playing time last season. If we can get a small forward, i wouldn't mind starting willie at the 2. i'd feel better about our sg/sf spots being willie/new small forward ( mkg?) rather than new shooting guard/Caron

Your be regretting that IF Green does becoming the starting sg. The sg and sf must be upgraded for us to become an elite championship contender.

well only reason i'm saying this is cause I think we have the pieces to only upgrade ONE of the 2 positions. I'd rather upgrade the small forward, as I think green does a better job at his position than Caron does.

tense2

06/26/2013 - 10:58 AM PST

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clipperstown wrote:

tense2 wrote:

clipperstown wrote:

willie green definitely deserved more playing time last season. If we can get a small forward, i wouldn't mind starting willie at the 2. i'd feel better about our sg/sf spots being willie/new small forward ( mkg?) rather than new shooting guard/Caron

Your be regretting that IF Green does becoming the starting sg. The sg and sf must be upgraded for us to become an elite championship contender.

well only reason i'm saying this is cause I think we have the pieces to only upgrade ONE of the 2 positions. I'd rather upgrade the small forward, as I think green does a better job at his position than Caron does.

Think we upgrade both slots with a little imagination.

ClipSince7thGrade

06/26/2013 - 12:01 PM PST

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I'll give respect where respect is due and I definitely agree that we did better when Willie Green started over Billups, him being the starter on the other hand I'm not so sure about. I'd like to keep him but I want an upgrade at the SG position. Don't want Crawford starting either, I like him coming off the bench, so getting a new SG in my opinion is a must to take us to that next level. I'm just looking for someone with good three point shooting and good defense, everything else comes second in my opinion.

wessleejr

06/26/2013 - 12:12 PM PST

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I watch Clippers every game, Willie has ups and down but IMO he should get a shot, he s always ready when needed, never argue never complain.

Clippersfan86

06/26/2013 - 12:17 PM PST

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If we want to contend for a title we can't have ANY bench caliber players starting. Would love to keep him as a backup but we need a better starter like Afflalo/Lee.

divinebeast

06/26/2013 - 12:46 PM PST

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Voyeur wrote:

pmb0928 wrote:

Willie was 47/84 for 56% from the field in his last 13 games played at end of regular season and 20/34 from 3 point range in that span for 59%

Thanks. And what does that tell you about a guy who saves his best for the final stretch? Sure he's not as great a defender as a Bruce Bowen but not many are. He's pretty solid, and a guy like Doc may even make him better. Plus, there's a history with he and Paul. I like the guy as our starter. I wouldn't say no to Afflalo but I'm just saying my priorities would be different at personnel.

lol dude he only takes like 2 a game

For comparison Kyle Korver takes around five and makes around 45 percent

namzug

06/26/2013 - 01:04 PM PST

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I wouldn't mind willie green if we somehow pull off a trade that gets us luol deng for Bledsoe and butler in some type three way trade or get a player of the same quality(there aren't many).

We could do well with willie green if we get a great small forward to start, but if I think it is easier to upgrade at the two position with a trade then the three. Maybe sign Brandon rush then three team trade to get frye and brown from phoenix. then we could just let brown and green compete for the starting position, brown being better at defense and is much more athletic, while green is a much better shooter and less turnover prone.

Willie green is a role player, just like danny green, mike miller, shane battier (at this point in his career), lance Stephenson (for now), felton, and Derek fisher was with the lakers. You need these type players on your team, and sometimes the key to being successful as a team is surrounding your stars with the right type of role players. So to brush him off as a bench player doesn't do him justice. Jamal Crawford as well as Jr smith have shown us again that coming off the bench could be as valuable in cases.

The problem with Willie green was not necessarily him, but rather that it was difficult for him and caron to keep up with quicker players. If you upgrade one of the two spots the other wouldn't be so bad. Caron would actually play some really nice games as well, but when you have two wing players that are not fast (laterally) then it throws a wrench in your game plan. This could of also played a part in our defense being sub par at points, if we played a team with two fast wing players they were probably having trouble. I can't recall but I would imagine, but basic basketball if you are giving up penetration into the paint it opens up the floor.

toohipcliptoslip

06/26/2013 - 03:55 PM PST

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My thought was this. Hopefully we will upgrade at center. Jamal Can't start. We want to keep Barnes. Bledsoe's future is uncertain especially if Doc wants to keep him. We will have to pay CP3 a lot and the new CBA won't let us pull what LAL used to do even though Diamond Donald would spend the $$

Butler is slow on defense and streaky on offense and will play fewer minutes next year. A starting SF was really the big hole in the line up. Isn't it worth saving $7 mill in cap space. Of our players under contract the only real liability is Butler. If I can get a Rudy Gay quality SF I can live with DJ

CP, BG, Willie, Jamal, DJ, Butler, EB ~ 75% EB gets traded.

There is a thread about Willie in the gym this summer on his own. Doesn't that say something? This guy is hungry. He often came off the bench cold and still did well.

As far as Bowen all Willie has to do is learn to knee a guy in the balls.

Voyeur

06/26/2013 - 05:42 PM PST

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I disagree with those who think Willie can't start for a championship team. Championships aren't won because everybody's a versatile star player. Role players are necessary too. Especially long range role players like Willie. Honestly, I think he's better as a starter than as a reserve. He knows exactly where to be open for 3. He seems to be able to cut to the basket when he's inspired to do so. Despite a flaw or two, we kinda were a championship caliber team in the first half of the season when Willie started. And he wasn't even playing as well as he did down the stretch. If he had started in the post season, there was a chance he could have continued his hot shooting and we'd have been in good shape. An aggressive Willie Green on a team led by Doc Rivers might be just the right guy to open the offense up. We know Willie can do it. I'm just not sure bringing a new guy in the SG position will actually be a good thing for team chemistry. I think he would fit Doc's system fine, but I'm kinda over Butler and DJ. I was very disappointed Butler didn't step up the way a VETERAN should when CP3 went down to injury. BG stepped up. DJ was too limited and immature to step up. Willie's a role player. And Bledsoe was not yet a leader. Butler has been in the league a long time. He's somewhat versatile offensively and a member of a championship team. He should have stepped up and didn't. This is why a change in the SF and C positions are a little more important for me than the SG.

Markojaric

06/26/2013 - 10:24 PM PST

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Gotta agree with Voyeur. Making Post Mortem analysis isnt helpful at all, but Im positive that we all were desperate during playoffs because we thought that Willie would make a difference.

And with his play lately, he earned the right to make us think that. I have the feeling that Willie is better than we think, and we should keep him. And if we dont bring a quality SG, he should start.

Amnesty_David_Stern

06/27/2013 - 09:26 PM PST

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If we don't sign or trade for a better SG then sure, start Willie.

Markojaric

06/27/2013 - 11:19 PM PST

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Well...Reggie was drafted. Not sure if he s gonna be a starter, because theres no chance in hell we start Crawford. So probably hell play as a 3.